demonstrations:naked_egg_osmosis
Naked Egg Osmosis
Materials: ★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
Categories: Cells and Microscopes
Alternative titles: Shrinking and Swelling Eggs
Summary
An egg with its shell dissolved in vinegar (a “naked egg”) demonstrates osmosis. In water, the egg swells as water enters through the semi-permeable membrane. In corn syrup, the egg shrinks as water leaves the egg.
Procedure
- Prepare a “naked egg” by soaking a raw egg in vinegar for 24–48 hours until the shell dissolves.
- Weigh the egg and record its mass.
- Place the naked egg into a jar and cover it completely with salt water.
- Place another naked egg in water as a control.
- Leave both jars for 24 hours in a cool place or refrigerator.
- Remove the eggs and observe changes in size, texture, and weight.
- Weigh each egg again and record.
Links
The Naked Egg and Osmosis - The Sci Guys:
📄 Naked Eggs: Osmosis - Science World: https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/naked-eggs-osmosis/
Variations
- Soak another egg in corn syrup and compare results.
- Use water with food coloring to see if the color also diffuses.
- Leave the egg longer than 24 hours and track mass changes over several days.
Safety Precautions
- Handle naked eggs carefully - they are fragile and can burst easily.
- Keep raw eggs refrigerated during the experiment to reduce bacterial growth.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw eggs.
- Dispose of eggs properly after the experiment; do not eat them.
Questions to Consider
- Why is your naked egg that was soaked in vinegar bigger than a shelled egg? (Because water moved from the vinegar into the egg through osmosis, making it swell.)
- Why does the egg in corn syrup change shape and weight? (Because water moved out of the egg into the corn syrup, causing it to shrink.)
- Does the egg soaked in water change shape and weight? (Yes, it becomes larger because water enters the egg.)
- What could you do to return the egg to its original form? (Place the shriveled egg back into water so it reabsorbs water through osmosis.)